Container



July 13, 1943.` R M, SHLABACH- 2,324,032

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 19, 1941 Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Raymond M. Schlabach, Canton, Ohio Application February 19, 1941, Serial No. 379,613

(Cl. B21-64) 7 Claims.

My invention relates to containers, more particularly adapted for powders, which have openings and attached closures which are operative to provide a substantially but not entirely airtight seal for the openings, and which are easily operated to cover and uncover the openings.

Usual containers for powders, or granular or comminuted material, which should be kept from continuous exposure to the atmosphere, include cans made of sheet metal such as tin plate, terne plate, or black iron, each having a top wall with an opening which is usually circular and in which is wedge fitted a plug closure usually in the form of a sheet metal flanged cup.

For removing the usual plug closure, a prying action is utilized and it is necessary to apply considerable wedging pressure in replacing the plug closure in the container opening to effect a substantial seal of the opening.

Because of the necessity of wedging the usual plug closure into the opening of a usual can container, there is a tendency on the part of users of the same to loosely insert the plug closure in the opening without effecting a' satisfactory seal.

The objects of the present improvements include the provision of an improved container particularly adapted for powders, or granular or comminuted material, which it is desirable to protect from the atmosphere, and the container having an opening with a closure operatively attached and which is adapted for easily covering and uncovering the opening and for effecting a substantially but not necessarily entirely airtight seal for the opening when in the covering position.

Further objects of the present improvements include the provision of an improved container having an opening with an attached closure operative for covering and uncovering the opening, all the parts of the improved container being adapted to be made of sheet metal by usual machinery in a usual can manufacturing plant.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the containers, parts, combinations, and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments oi which are set forth in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improved container of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a preferably cylindric tubular body,

preferably of usual seamed can construction, and which has a usual circular cup bottom applied with a single bead or seam after the container has been filled from the bottom with powder or other material.

At the other top end of the tubular body, a can head is attached, and immediately above the can head a rotary top disk is located, and immediately above the rotary top disk an annular bearing ring is beaded or seamed with the can head to the upper end of the tubular can body.

The rotary top disk has an upwardly protruding handle, preferably an outwardly protruding circular bead or ridge adjacent the inner annular edge of the ring, an opening at one side of the handle, and preferably diametrically opposite the opening, a depression forming a downwardly protruding plug corresponding in shape to the opening.

The can head has at one side of its center an opening corresponding in area and fitting with the opening in the rotary top disk and the sealing plug thereof, and the can headalso has an upwardly opening curved channel depression whose ends are spaced from the opening in the head, the curvature of the channel depression being circular and being arcuately alined with the sealing plug in the rotary top disk, whereby rotation of the top disk serves to spring the plug 1n the top disk to and from the opening in the can head and into and out of the curved channel therein.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the improved container hereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container including the present improvements with a` portion of the rotary top disk broken away to show the can head immediately beneath;

Fig. 2, an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view as on line 2-2, Figi; and

Fig. 3, a top plan view of the can head prior to assembly.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

The improved container indicated generally by I0 is preferably of sheet metal construction, the sheet metal being tin plate, terne plate, black iron, or other similar material used in can manufacturing and the like.

The improved container I0 includes a cylindric tubular body Il which may have a usual longitudinal seam Ila. At one end of the cylindric tubular body I I there is provided a usual bottom wall Hb of cup construction and secured by a similar parts single seam in a usual manner to the lower extremity of the cylindric tubular body I I.

In the top portions of the container I0, a can head wall I2 extends across the other end of the cylindric tubular body II. Immediately above the head wall I2 a rotary disk indicated generally by I 3 rotatably ts within the end of the cylindric body II. Immediately above the rotary disk i3 there is located an annular sealing and bearing ring I4, inner preferably circular peripheral portions of which retain the disk I3 against the head wall I2.

The upper extremity of the cylindric tubular body II and the outer peripheral portions of the head Wall I2 and the ring I4 are spun to make an annular bead seam I5 in a usual manner.

The rotary top disk I3 is formed with an upwardly protruding circular bead ridge I6 adjacent the inner annular edge II of the ring I4, and an opening I8 is formed in the rotary top disk I3 at one side of its center, and preferably diametrically opposite the opening I8 there is formed in the rotary disk I3 a depression protruding downwardly as a plug I9.

The can head wall I2 has at one side of its center an opening 20 corresponding in` area and registerable with the disk opening I8 and adapted to receive the sealing plug I9 of the rotary disk I3.

The can head wall I2 also formed therein an upwardly opening curved channel depression 2I whose ends 22 vand 23 are spaced some distance away from the opening 20and the curvature of the channel depression 2l is circular and is arcuately alined with the opening 2U of the head Wall I2 and also with the sealing plug I9 of the rotary disk I3.

In the drawing, the rotary disk I3 is shown in sealed position, with the sealing plug I9 extending into the opening 20 of the head wall I2.

For facilitating rotation of the disk I3, the disk I3 may be formed with a central radially extending upwardly protruding handle 24.

When it is desired to gain access to the powder or other material in the interior of the improved can I0, the tubular body II is held by one hand,

and the handle 24 of the rotary disk I3 is turned with the other hand, springing the sealing plug I9 out of the head wall opening 20, and then riding it into the circularly curved channel depression 2|, after which further turning eiects registration of the opening I8 of the rotary disk I3 with the opening 20 of the head Wall I2.

For again closing the head wall opening 20 reverse rotation of the disk I3 is effected, springing the plug I9 out of the channel 2| and into the head wall opening 20.

By the foregoing construction, a suciently air-tight seal isattained for powders or similar material in common use which have heretofore had plug type friction tops which have been very difficult to open and which are usually not closed properly.

Moreover, the arrangement of the parts, and particularly the provision of the circular head ridge I6 adjacent the inner annular edge I1 of the ring I4, prevents catching of the finger nailsl beneath the ring i4, and similar undesirable accidents.

The bearing ring I4 as shown and preferably has an inneroutwardly concave frusto-conical flange 25 sloping from the seam I5 towards the rotary disk I3 and having the inner annular edge Il abutting the rotary disk I3. By thus providing the inner frusto-conical ange 25 on the bearing ring I4, the closure of the head wall opening 20 by the plug I9 of the disk I3 is facilitated by a yielding springing action, and the springing of the sealing plug I9 out of the head wall opening 20 when the disk I3 is rotated from the sealing position is also facilitated.

For further facilitating the springing of the plug I9 into and out of the head wall opening 20 and out of and into the channel 2|, the sides of the plug I9 are preferably sloping as best shown in Fig. 2, and the sides of the channel 2I are preferably provided with corresponding slopes.

From a broad standpoint, the head wall I2, the rotary disk I3, and the bearing ring I 4, assembled together as above set forth with the disk rotatable between the head wall I2 and the bearing ring I4, and with the outer peripheral portions of the head wall I2 and the bearing ring I4,secured together, constitute an improved openable and closable closure construction for any opening, which as shown is the upper end of the tubular can body II.

The embodiments of the present improvements illustrated and described herein are by way of example, vand the scope ofthe present invention is not limited to the 'same or to the particular details thereof, but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein which may at any time properly under the United States patent laws be set forth in the claims hereof or originating herein, and the elements of any such claims, are intended to include their reasonable functional or structural equivalents. I claim: l

l. In closure construction for a container and the like, a wall having formed therein an opening and a curved channel formed separatelyl in the wall from the opening and having ends spaced from the opening, the curved channel being circular and being arcuately alined with the opening, a rotary disk at one -side of the wall, the rotary disk having formed therein an opening registerable with the wall opening, and the disk having on its side adjacent the wall a plug4 spaced from the disk opening and rotatable with the disk into and out of the wall openingv and from and in the curved channel, and spring bearing ring means extending from the wall over outer peripheral portions of the disk and retaining the disk against the Wall.

2. In closure construction for a container and the like, a wall having formed therein an opening and a curved channel formed separately in the wall from the opening and having ends spaced from the opening, the curved channel being circular and being arcuately alined with the opening, a rotary disk at one side of the wall, the rotary disk having formed therein an. opening registerable with the wall opening, and the disk having on its side adjacent the Wall a plug spaced from the disk opening and rotatable with the disk into and out of the wall opening and from and in the curved channel and the disk having on the other side a circular ridge, and a bearing ring including outer peripheral portions secured to the wall and inner circular peripheral portions engirdling the circular ridge on the disk and retaining the disk against the wall:

3. In closure construction for a container and the like, a wall having formed therein an opening and a circularly curved channel formed separately inthe wall from the opening and having anrend spaced from the opening, the channel being arcuately alined with the opening, a rotary disk at one side of the wall, the rotary disk havfrom the opening and having an end spaced from the opening, a disk at one side of the Wall, the

disk having formed therein an .opening registerable with the Wall opening, and the disk having on its side adjacent the Wall a plug spaced from the disk opening, and means mounting the disk for movement of the plug into and out of the ,Wall opening and from and in the channel, the .openings being registerable with each other when the plug is in the channel.

5. In closure construction for a container and the like, 'a Wall having formed therein an opening and a channel formed separately in the wall from the opening and having an end spaced from the opening, a disk at one side of the Wall, the disk having formed therein an opening registerable with the wall opening and the disk having on its side adjacent the Wall a plug spaced from the disk opening, and flange means secured to the wall and having portions sloping towards the disk and retaining the disk against the wall and permitting movement of the disk for moving the plug into and out of the Wall opening and from and in the channel, the openings being registeraclel with each other when the plug is in the channel.

6. In closure construction for a container and the like, a wall having formed therein an opening and a circularly curved channel formed separately in the wall from the opening and having an end spaced from the opening, the channel being arcuately alined with the opening, a rotary disk at one side of the wall, the disk having formed therein an opening registerable with the Wall opening, and the disk having on its side adjacent the wall a plug spaced from the disk opening, and bearing ring means at the other side of the disk, the bearing ring means having outer peripheral portions secured to the wall and having inner frusto-conical flange portions sloping towards the disk and retaining the disk against the wall, the associated wall and bearing ring means permitting rotary movement of the disk for moving the plug into and out of the Wall opening and from and in the channel, the openings being registerable with each other when the plug is in the channel.

'7. In closure construction for a container and the like, a wall having formed therein an opening and a channel formed separately in the wall from the opening and having an end spaced from the opening, a disk at one side of the wall, the disk having formed therein an opening registerable with the wall opening, and the disk having on its side adjacent the Wall a plug spaced from the disk opening, and means mounting the disk for movement of the plug into and out of the wall opening and from and in the channel, the openings being registerable with each other when the plug is in the channel, the plug having slopingP side walls for facilitating springing of the plug into and out of the opening and from and in the channel.

RAYMOND M. SCHLABACH. 

